first-foot

American  

[furst-foot] / ˈfɜrstˈfʊt /

noun

1. the first person to cross the threshold of a house on New Year's Day.

2. the first person met after starting out on the day of an important occasion.

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verb (used with object)

1. to enter (a house) first on New Year's Day.

verb (used without object)

1. to be the first to enter a house on New Year's Day.

first-foot British  

noun

1. the first person to enter a household in the New Year. By Hogmanay tradition a dark-haired man who crosses the threshold at midnight brings good luck

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verb

1. to enter (a house) as first-foot

Other Word Forms

• first-footing
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of first-foot

First recorded in 1880–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first-foot

Nelly declared that the squinting sailor had been an excellent first-foot.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

"Ye are our first-foot, and I hope—I'm sure ye'll ba a lucky ane; and ye wadna, ye canna be gaun out without tasting wi' us on a New-year's morning."

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

"I should be the first-foot here, only I'm no use as a qualtagh," said Philip.

From The Manxman A Novel - 1895 by Sir Hall Caine

She was, indeed, the loveliest first-foot that had ever crossed the threshold of Mrs Rogers.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

My mother made up her mind that this was a most unfortunate first-foot, and that something serious would occur in the family during that year.

From Folk Lore Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland within This Century by James Napier

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